Vintage Athletes - Part 24

 Gump Worsley, Andy Bathgate, Bobby Orr

Today's post is about three vintage hockey players.  Lorne 'Gump' Worsley (1929-2007) was a goalie for the New York Rangers.  He was the last NHL goalie to play without a face mask.  "My face is my mask," he would say.  Above, the Gumper, as he was known, was knocked out cold in 1972 after taking a puck to the head.  Even after that, he didn't wear a mask.  Finally he wore a mask for six games in 1974.  "I don't like it," he said, and promptly retired.

Gump, at left above, was also a favorite of sportswriters for his quips.  In the 1950s, his team, the New York Rangers, was pretty hapless.  After being pelted by forty to fifty shots a night, he was asked by the press, "Which team in the league gives you the most trouble?"  He replied, "The New York Rangers."  Later, playing for the Minnesota North Stars, he was asked about a claim that he did most of his training in St. Paul bars.  He responded, "That's not true.  I've switched to Minneapolis now."

This photo and the previous one show Gump Worsley in 1962 in the shower with fellow New York Rangers player Andy Bathgate (1932-2016), at right.  Though not as colorful as Gump Worsley, Andy Bathgate was named one of the 100 greatest NHL players.  It certainly looks like the two guys got along.

Our other vintage hockey player today is Bobby Orr, born in 1948 and considered one of the greatest hockey players of all time.  The 1970 photo above is an iconic sports photo.  Orr has just made the goal in overtime that meant that his team, the Boston Bruins, won the Stanley Cup.  "I saw it go in, so I jumped," said Orr.  As he jumped, raising his hands in victory, opposing team member Noel Picard tripped him with his hockey stick.  Newspaper photographer Ray Lussier caught him at just the right instant.  It looks like Bobby Orr is flying, like Superman.

There don't seem to be any naked photos of Bobby Orr, though some of you might appreciate this photo of him in a jockstrap.

Artist Kurt Kauper says, "I’m not a hockey fan ... but when I was 6, I — like many other boys in Boston — idolized Bobby Orr. Looking back, it was as if I was in love with him.” Kauper has created some (unauthorized) portraits of Bobby Orr nude, which he painted based on photos and hockey card images.  This is Bobby #3.

This is Bobby #2.  I should say, based on photos, hockey card images, and his imagination.

You'll see more of Kurt Kauper's artwork tomorrow.